The Pure-Hearted Beauty Who Only Dotes on Me Despite Not Being in a Relationship—And How She Became Even Sweeter After We Started Dating - Chapter 61: Conditions for Acceptance.

Conditions for Acceptance.

“Should I help you with something?”

Mizuki had started making dinner as soon as we got home, while I just sat on the sofa, doing nothing.

“It’s okay. If you intervene, Ao-kun, it won’t be my cooking anymore.”

“Yeah, but…”

As I idly waited, I turned on the TV. They were running a feature on places to go for Christmas.

(Christmas, huh…)

The year feels like it’s flown by. Last year, if I remember correctly, we had a Christmas party at Mizuki’s place with the four of us. Kana will probably suggest doing it again this year.

Three days after Christmas is Mizuki’s birthday. I need to think of a present.

It’s our first Christmas since we started dating, and her birthday right after. With so much to look forward to, I feel like I’m living the most fulfilling life right now.

“Mizuki, do you have any plans for Christmas?”

“Not particularly. I was just thinking of having some cake at home…”

“Then, why don’t we spend Christmas together? Kana will likely spend it with Kouta this year, so we can have a four-person party on Christmas Eve.”

Wanting to spend Christmas with her, I invited Mizuki. She looked genuinely happy.

“Yes, let’s spend it together.”

For her, who usually spent Christmas alone, it was a joy to have someone to share it with.

It’s still early December, so there’s time before Christmas, but now there’s something to look forward to.

“Staying in is nice, but it would also be good to go out on Christmas. I heard there’s an illumination display at the station. I’d love to see it.”

“The illumination at the station, huh… I’d like to see that too. I was planning to have cake with my mom on Christmas night, but Mizuki, would you like to join us?”

I’m sure my mom would be happy if Mizuki came.

“I’d love to.”

“Then I’ll let my mom know. Oh, let me help you carry that.”

“Thank you.”

Dinner was ready, so I went to the kitchen to help carry it to the table.

“Wow, this looks delicious!”

I was so impressed by the meal Mizuki had prepared that I took a picture of it with my phone.

“I also made some miso soup, but I’m not sure if it will suit your taste…”

Hamburg steak and miso soup. Wait a minute, these are all my favorite dishes… She must be uncertain about the miso soup because I mentioned before that I liked my grandmother’s miso soup. Could it be…?

I looked up at Mizuki, and she smiled warmly.

“I made the dishes you said you liked before. But since you mentioned your grandmother’s miso soup, I’m not sure if it will be to your taste…”

I said “Itadakimasu” and tried the miso soup before the hamburger steak.

“It’s delicious… Just like my grandmother’s.”

This isn’t flattery; it’s genuinely tasty. The flavor is just right, neither too weak nor too strong.

“I’m glad you like it.”

After finishing dinner, I sent a message to my mom saying I’d be heading home and left Mizuki’s house.

When I got home, I saw my mom’s and dad’s shoes in the entryway. I felt a bit anxious about going inside, but I walked in and called out as usual.

“Ao, where have you been?”

“Didn’t Mom tell you? I was with…my girlfriend. We went to the arcade and then had dinner.”

I decided to stop lying. I wanted to be honest about having a girlfriend and doing typical high school things.

“Your girlfriend… Could it be that your grades have dropped because of her?”

He assumed my grades had fallen since I started dating Mizuki, and I quickly denied it.

“No, that’s not it. Dating Mizuki has nothing to do with my grades dropping. And while we’re at it, I don’t plan on going to a prestigious school. I think it’s enough if my grades are good enough to get into the school I want.”

Before my dad could say anything, I spilled out everything I had been afraid to say until now, not giving him a chance to interrupt.

“What do you want from me, Dad?”

I felt like he was never satisfied with my grades, constantly stripping away my freedom to play, join clubs, or enjoy myself, imposing his ideals on me.

In middle school, I did what I was told, like a people-pleaser, but it became unbearable, and I couldn’t continue that way in high school.

“I just want you to go to a good school. I think having a girlfriend is making you neglect your studies. Love, clubs, and hanging out with friends are just distractions.”

Ah, this is hopeless… I’ll never see eye to eye with him. There’s no way I can express what I want to do or get him to accept my relationship with Mizuki. If he believes that love, clubs, and friends are mere distractions from studying, then I’ll have to prove otherwise.

“Fine… If I get the top score in the upcoming finals, will you let me have everything? My relationship, my hobbies, all of it?”

“…Alright. But if you fail, you’ll break up with your girlfriend and join the student council.”

“Deal…”

Maybe there were other ways to handle this. But when dealing with someone who refuses to listen, the only option is to do something so decisive they can’t argue against it.